P90X Workout Results and Some Negative Comments

Most everyone claims P90X works. Most users seem to go from couch potato to extreme fitness. So, based on the collective works of all the users, I think the answer has to be yes. For a great many people, P90X has proven an excellent system for weight loss and fitness.

However, it's hard to find a negative comment. Well, I have a few negative things to say.

I started P90X a week ago. That is beginning on May 2010. I'm not very far in, so I can't give a complete review. But I can let you know what I've discovered so far.

I am amazed by all the reformed couch potatoes that simply love P90X. It's definitely advanced, so you better be in some kind shape first. There is a "fit test" to determine if you are in good enough shape to start. If you are in good enough shape to pass the fit test or exercise regularly, you should be disciplined to exercise regularly. If you are disciplined, do you need P90X? Good question, hopefully I'll know the answer in 90 days.

If you are a reformed couch potato, how did you go from no exercise to this advanced stuff?  P90X offers 25% commission to affiliates.  Could that have affected some of these glowing reviews?

I should tell you I'm 40 years old.  I exercise pretty regularly...

1. 1 x per week weight lifting
2. 2 x per week running 2.5 miles
3. pull ups every day

I really like pull ups.  Much better than push ups.  The every day pull ups are modelled on Pavel Tsatsouline and his Russian volumization techniques.  I find that 1 upper body workout in the gym per week plus pull ups every morning while I brush my teeth keeps me in pretty good shape.  The running does cardio and legs. I used to run 3 days per week, but I cut it back to avoid burn out.

I was able to pass the fit test.

P90X demands an hour+ every day, six days a week. Plus, 3 days a week you add Ab Ripper X for another 20+ minutes. So, you've got at least 1 hour if not an hour and a half every day for a workout. You have to budget for this time. I'm getting up early and doing it in the morning (I've been a morning workout person for years). Plus, I've been tired at the end of the day. I'm not entirely sure it's due to P90X, but the workouts good easily be the cause. So, I'm up earlier and to bed a little sooner. It cuts into your day if you have a job.

Did anyone ever hear of burnout? Looking forward, I'm thinking it'll be impossible to get through this workout without some burnout.

My previous workout consisted of a 1 hour workout 3 days per week (run and gym) and then just pull ups as I brush my teeth for a few minutes. I was definitely not burned out, and probably never would have been. I was happy with my workout schedule.

With P90X I've really had to adjust my schedule. Is that what the "90" in P90X means? Why do all the other reviews keep saying it is only an hour

I suppose this will get better as I go, but it's tough to get the proper form for the myriad of exercises Tony has you do.

Take Plyometrics, which is jump training. The basic moves were jump squats and lunges. There must've have been 20 variations of these basic moves. Half of the time I couldn't figure out what the heck I suppose to be doing. I guess Tony is trying to keep things interesting by constantly giving you a new move. But heck, I wouldn't mind more repetition or longer than 30 seconds of it cut down on some of the crazy exercises and moves.

Same goes for the "Shoulders & Arms". Really, you have presses & flyes for shoulder, chair dips and tricep extensions, and finally bicep curls. 5 basic moves. Do we have to do that silly lie on the floor tricep thing? I don't know if I'll ever get the form on that right.

In all fairness Chest & Back was all push ups and pull ups. Tony makes you vary hand placement or grip, but at least it's not hard to follow.

As a sort of gym rat, I found the shoulder and arm workout not taxing enough.  True I struggled with the crazy exercise variations and trying to find the right resistance, so maybe it will get better.  But I couldn't help but think I could have had a better 30 minutes workout in a gym than the 60 minute one I got.

Most of the workouts seem at least partially cardio. Plyometrics was sooo cardio (my abs and legs hurt for the next day). Chest and Back had me breathing heavy. Only Shoulders & Arms seemed less of a cardio workout.

I was really hoping to add some mass. Sure, I could use some weight loss, but I want to add bulk to my arms and legs. What seems likely is that I won't add mass but instead it'll tone what I already have.

I'm thinking of adding my daily pull ups back in just for mass. But then, I feel pretty fatiqued already (I mean sore) and I definitely don't want to burn out.

If you are considering P90X, you've probably read that Plyometrics is the toughest of the workouts. What is plyometrics?

It's jump training. That means it's a leg workout, squats and lunges, but you also jump on the upward movement. It moves along quickly, and you'll be puffing from the cardio aspect. It's probably a little more cardio than a leg workout, but you do get quite a bit of leg work in there too.

It's tough on the feet, kness and back. If you have conditions with any of these, you may have to do the lower impact "cardio X" in place of plyometrics.

Get some good shoes. You'll absolutely need cushioned, supportive shoes for this workout. I have my ascis running sneakers (helpful for my high arches).

It works your core and abdominals. Tony combines some jumps with a spin or twist, working the abs. My abs were as sore as my legs the next day (and they are still sore the day after). The Plyometrics ab work left my abs more sore than the Ab Ripper X. Go figure. Of course, I've had to take breaks in the AB Ripper X where I tried to go all the way with Plyometrics.

I have never done Yoga before. I am self aware enough to realize I wasn't very flexible before starting P90X.

Yoga X was way over my head. I found it harder than Plyometrics. Sure plyo was tough, but I could do it. Yoga, ha. There's no way I made it into the half the positions. My legs are not that flexible, no way could I straighten my legs in those positions. Plus I can't keep my balance. And by the way, how am I supposed watch the DVD while twisting myself up in a knot?

It was 90 minutes long. I was prepared for an hour, not 90 minutes.

Tony keeps saying you have to keep pushing play, so I'll do it again when it comes around. However, after this first time, I think I need a beginner Yoga. It's a shame that the fit test didn't test my flexibility, or that there's not a easier Yoga workout / alternative (like how you can substitute Cardio X for Plyometrics).

If you've never done Yoga before, you've been warned.

It's pretty early for me to tell, but all signs seem to indicate it will work. I'm not putting the whole program down, but I think somebody has to say some negative things. After all, would you believe any product that was perfect? So, go read all the pep talks on other reviews, and come back here for that little dose of reality that says P90X is a 90 minute, 6 day per week workout, and it's not perfect.

A little over a year later. I've completed 3.5 full 90 day workouts. I really like working out at home, plus I've had some good results, so I kept at it. I've had anywhere from 2-6 weeks between finishing and re-starting the program.

I got sick two times. Both times it was post workout glycogen depletion. Dizzy, fatigued, gotta lay down but not vomiting. Tired all day like having a bad cold. I was over trained and immediately stopped for 1 week.

Here are some more tidbits I've picked up.

(a) Have a post workout recovery drink. I discovered this AFTER glycogen depletion. You don't need anything fancy. All you need is a drink with 4 grams of carbs for every 1 gram of protein. Low fat chocolate milk does the trick (seriously, go Google it). Personally I have 1/2 scoop of whey protein in 4oz skim milk (about 15-17 grams of protein) immediately followed by 12oz of 100% grape juice (about 60 grams of carbs). I workout in the morning, so this is also breakfast. P.S. I tried whey directly in the grape juice, yuck! Also, grape juice has more carbs than apple juice.

(b) I like caffeine and bananas pre-workout. I usually drink 1/2 5 hour energy 10-30 minutes before a workout. I've been on a dried banana chip craze lately, and I read that caffeine and carbs together is more effective than just caffeine, so I eat about 1/2 of a banana, in dried chip form. Bananas they say are good energy food because there is some sugar for an instance rush and some starch for longer lasting energy.

(c) How does anyone survive the Back&Bicep workout? Even after so times through the program, it still just KILLS my biceps. Back, double bicep, back, double bicep. I think it would be better to have double back and one bicep. Otherwise my arms are too wasted for pull ups.

(d) Modify. Over the last 6 weeks, I dropped the legs&back in favor of shoulders&arms. I'm so sick of the legs&back (since that is the same for all 90 days). Plus I wanted to put some size on the arms.

(e) Only doing abs one time per week, not 3. Just too much otherwise. Of course, the gut is looking bad these days.

(f) protein, protein and more protein. If I get hungry between meals, I usually have a whey protein shake or beef jerky. I don't follow the diet at all, but I tell you putting this much effort into the workouts makes you want to eat healthier.

(g) hitting the pause button. I've been in the habit of pausing on the weight lifting days when Tonay takes a break to have a longer timeout. My thought was I'll work harder and I need the extra recovery. Today I did chest&back and I kept up with Tony. Felt better than I have in a while, so I may try to keep up from now on.

I've kept up doing P90X for almost two years. Taking a break in between 90 days and then coming back to start over. I've kinda lost track of how many times I've done it. But I can say I took Dec 2011 and Jan 2011 off and went back to the gym (just for a change of pace). Then in Feb 2012 I started P90X again. I made until the beginning of April and I pulled an oblique in the batting cages practicing for softball. I kept running and doing plyo (sometimes twice a week), but I cut out all weight lifting. My oblique was sore where it meets the Lat muscle, so I could not do pull ups. In fact, I'm pretty sure that all the pullups were a major factor in getting the injury. Started back up beginning of May 2012 (just started week 2 today).

I still skip Yoga for an extra days rest. Either during off weeks, or in between 90 day cycle I swear I am going to do it. I also replaced Kenpo with running 3 miles. Kenpo just wasn't doing it for me. Plus, I'll bet Tony would be happy since running is good exercise. I think the only reason there is no running is because you can't run outdoors while watching a DVD.

I have to say P90X works and I like it. I really like working out at home, which saves time. Of course you could argue doing any workout 5-6 days per week for 60+ minutes will work.

My recommendations?

(1) Recovery drink. Still drinking it as breakfast. 4 grams carbs for every 1 gram protein. 15g protein with whey powder and milk. 60g carb with 12oz grape juice. I am convinced this keeps me from getting sick from glycogen depletion.

(2) 5 hour energy and Hammer gels. Hammer gel is maltodextrin that marathon runners and cyclist take with water. It's complex carbs that are easily absorbed. I replaced the banana chips with Hammer gel. Mixing the gel and caffeine from 5-hour energy gives me the energy and focus to keep going.

Warning: do not take the full 1.7 tablespoons / 5 teaspoons before P90X. I feel bloated if I do. Instead, try 2 teaspoons with 4-8oz water, and then 1/2 a 5-hour energy. I get the energy without feeling bloated.

Also, I should mention that the gel is meant to be taken with water (don't skip it). And then the caffeine will dehydrate you, not that I feel it. But the guy that told me about Hammer Gel won't touch caffeine because he says it dehydrates him.

(3) Supplment your workouts. Maybe it's because I have the extra day off, but I usually do pullups or weighted squats immediately before or immediately after P90X. I don't think there is enough leg work. Do more squats and plyo gets easier. I do pullups because I like them and I think it's good overall upper body exercise.

(4) weighted pullups. Sometimes I do pullups with a backpack with 20lbs in it. I want heavier weights and 8 reps, so why should I do 20 un-weighted pullups?

(5) push up variations. Again, I want heavy weight and 8 reps, so doing 30 regular pushups doesn't cut it. Do clap pushups, stability ball pushups or leg raise push ups.